BONZA - Australia & New Zealand Database

Title

Celia: Child of Terror

Released

1989

Production Year

1988

Director

Ann Turner

Countries of Production

Australia

Comments

Although this movie starts off slow and exhibits painfully 'Aussie' accents, overall it is a thought provoking and thrilling watch. Viewing the world through Celia's child eyes lets you experience a unique take on reality. Politics, rabbits and community perceptions are explored through the understanding of a child. It makes you think that adult's are just missing the point. When Celia becomes friends with the Tanner's next door, she doesn't understand why she can't play with them because of their communist beliefs. The interaction between Celia and her own mother and farther compared to her interactions with Alice Tanner shows that she would rather a mother like Alice and doesn't understand why her family rejects the Tanners. She notices that her Dad tries to make sexual advances on Alice but doesn't understand the full implications of this. Celia's fear of the Hobyahs remains throughout the film and ultimately ends in a tragic way that no little girl could fully comprehend, leaving her mother to protect her, which in turn improves their relationship.

Synopsis

Celia, a young school girl is haunted by her childhood terrors the Hobyahs. After her Grandmother passes away, Celia becomes involved with her communist neighbours and a childhood battle over the local playground (a quarry). Set in 1957 Australia, with plagues of rabbits and community disdain of communism, Celia's situation becomes beguiled by her imagination with things boiling up to an ultimate tragic result.

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